Ro-Ko, the Pied Pipers, woo Raipur in a frenzy

Shamik Chakrabarty in Raipur

India were done with their practice session on the match eve and the players were heading towards the pavilion when the fans, a lucky few hundreds, who were allowed inside the stadium, started chanting, “Rishabh, Rishabh”. The wicketkeeper-batsman walked up to them and signed autographs. Earlier, the cricket enthusiasts watched Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli doing their batting drills. Their day was made.

Rishabh Pant is the team’s second choice in the 50-over format, behind stand-in captain KL Rahul in the pecking order. But he still remains immensely popular, notwithstanding that Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, had aimed a thinly-veiled dig at him, without naming the player, at the post-match press conference after India’s shambolic defeat in the second Test in Guwahati last week. He was asked not to play to the gallery.

But the fans like Pant because he is a maverick who doesn’t tick the conventional box. As a batsman he can do the impossible, but Rahul has settled nicely in the middle-order and has done nothing wrong to put himself under the scanner. Pant knows and accepts the situation. Playing him at No. 5 at the expense of Washington Sundar remains an option, but this team management falls for ‘multi-skilled’ cricketers, batting-and-bowling-wise. India are likely to retain the winning combination and Pant will have to sit out again.

Raipur’s history dates back to the 9th century. As a cricket centre, it’s an upstart. Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium hosted its first ODI only two years ago, in January 2023. It made the stadium the country’s 50th ODI venue. Mohammed Shami was at his brilliant best in that game, running through New Zealand batting and returning with 3/18. The Kiwis were bowled out for 108 and India chased down the target in 20 overs.

Much water has flown under the bridge since. Shami is no longer in the selectors’ scheme of things. Rohit, a popular and powerful captain back then, is one of the team members now, as is Kohli. But from the fans’ perspective, they remain the Pied Pipers. ODI cricket in this country is still in the pink because the two superstars ensure sell-outs.

One of the positives for India in the first ODI was Harshit Rana’s bowling. His two wickets upfront followed by Dewald Brevis’ scalp in the middle-overs contributed to his team’s 17-run victory. By now, Rana has grown a thick skin and it was heartening the way he brushed aside the trolls/abuse on social media. “If I try listening to all these things, thinking about them while taking the field, I won’t be able to play my cricket,” said the young fast bowler at the pre-match press conference.

Rana spoke about the influence of Rohit and Kohli on this team. “It’s a big deal for me and the whole side. It’s a happy dressing room and their presence makes the environment happy.”

As for South Africa, Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj are likely to return to the playing XI for the second ODI.

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